The People

Tony & Cindy Kooyumjian

Owners of Montelle Winery & Augusta Winery

The Kooyumjians have wine growing in their blood. Tony’s grandmother immigrated to California from Armenia in 1915 and quickly established a vineyard in the San Joaquin Valley. Though he chose a career outside grape growing, it did not take Tony long to find a way back to his wine heritage. It restarted when Tony had the opportunity to reopen the Weprich Winery, which today is the Winery of the Little Hills. Inspired by how rich the German heritage of the Augusta region reminded him of his grandmother and father’s old world ethics, Tony established the Augusta Winery in 1988 and purchased Montelle Winery in 1998. He is driven to re-create the way winemaking has taken place on the bluffs of the Missouri River since the area was first settled. And his uncompromising spirit has been rewarded. The Kooyumjians’ wines have earned numerous awards from around the world including several “Best of Show” in California Contests, “Best imported white wine to Germany,” and most importantly four Missouri Governor Cup Awards. Tony lives at his vineyards in Augusta with his wife Cindy. They have five children: Maria, Niki, Angela, Tom, and Danny and 10 grandchildren. He is a member of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board and the chair of the Wine and Grape Research Committee.

Rick & Carol Balducci

Owners of Balducci Vineyards

Bob & Lou Ann Nolan

Owners of Noboleis Vineyards

The Winegrowers

Our Promise

As the Missouri Weinstrasse, America’s first wine trail, we promise to you that we will never compromise our sacred practices of artisan winemaking. We will honor the Earth and our German heritage. And you won’t be disappointed.

Our promise to you starts with the soil. We promise that the ground on which you stand when you visit us will be held sacred. That means that we will be good stewards of the land and keep this region beautiful.

Our promise also extends to our wine we take from the soil. What you taste when you visit us will be made just the same it was be our German ancestors. That means that you get the chance to experience what the simple life can taste like.

Our promise is also to you. We promise that the wine you experience will be authentic. We feel you deserve that much from us. Our wine is grown here, made here and enjoyed right here. It’s never blended and never compromised.

If you want to experience the true taste of Missouri, our promise is you can start with the wineries of the Missouri Weinstrasse. And you won’t be disappointed.